Stop motion for sliver condensers



July 26, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1947 y 26, 1949- J. G. KERSHAW ET AL 2,477,185

STOP-MOTION FOR S LIVER CONDENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1947 IN V EN TORS' JOHN GREEN KERs/mw PAT/wax J. MALONE Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES ENT OFFlCE STOP MOTION FOR SLIVER CONDENSERS Application December 4, 1947, Serial No. 789,594

, In Canada November 24, 1947 Claims.

Introduction This invention relates to stop motions, and more particularly to an electric stop motion for textile machinery, as for instance sliver condensers.

After carding, and during yarn manufacturing, it has been found necessary to condense the yarn sliver by passing it between pairs of condenser rolls. In the more recent types of sliver condenser rolls, the rolls are equipped with a mating tongue and groove portion which forms a yarn guide and in order to have machine operation which is technically free of supervision, a stop mechanism is required to stop the machine in cases of breakage or exhaustion of the sliver supply.

One of the simpler, accepted methods of operating a stop motion is to complete an electrical circuit by the contact of one roll with the other. In this way when the rolls are maintained apart by the fibre passing between the rolls, the circuit is maintained in an open condition, and when the sliver breaks or the supply is exhausted the rolls are adapted to be urged together to close the circuit and operate the stop device.

This method was found satisfactory when plain rolls were used, but side play or lateral motion of one or both of the tongue and groove type rollers often causes unnecessary stoppage of the machine through contact formed by the side portions of the tongue and groove.

Objects The present invention deals fundamentally with these dimculties, and it aims to devise a practical solution for them.

Statement of invention The invention resides in a structure in which portion of the roll including either the tongue or groove is insulated from the shaft and including a separate non-insulated portion which is adapted to form the contacting member between the two shafts. The circuit which is completed by the contact is adapted to actuate a stop device. By having the noninsulated circuit carrying surfaces parallel to the axis of the shaft, lateral movement of the shaft and the resulting contacting of the side portion of the tongue and groove cannot normally cause stoppage to the machine. I l r A further phase of the invention resides in an improved insulated shaft clamp which is adapted to urge the shafts towards each other. The invention resides in insulating a pair of slidably mounted semi-circular bearings from the frame in which they are carried by means of a pair of tracks constructed of insulating material. A spring which is adapted to urge one of said bearings towards the other is insulated from the frame by means of an insulated spring seat and boss. The aforementioned frame. is detachable and normally adapted to encircle the two shafts. The semi-circular bearings are adapted to seat in annular grooves in the shafts to prevent creep-- ing of the clamp along the length of the shafts.

Detailed description With these and other objects in view the nature of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l diagrammatically illustrates a pair of shafts, condensing rolls mounting on said shafts, and clamps as adapted to a six head drawing frame, embodying a preferred structure of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the shafts, and a shaft'iclamp, illustrating a pair of condensing rolls in section, embodying a preferred embodiment of the invention, mounted on the shaft.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a spring loaded shaft clamp taken on the line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end section of the clamp taken on the line 4-4, Figure 3.

In the drawings, the numerals l0 and I2 represent a pair of shafts upon which are mounted opposed condensing rolls l4 and IS. A spring loaded shaft pressure clamp l8, encircling the two shafts, is adapted to urge the shafts one towards the other.

The sliver condensing rolls, as illustrated in Figure 2, may be constructed in many different ways, and the illustration is merely descriptive of one method of insulating, as in this case the groove which forms a substantially central portion on the periphery of one of the rolls. It will be understood that the same method as hereafter described may be used to insulate the tongue portion of the mating roll. The condensing roll, generally indicated by the numeral [6, is made up of an annular ring portion or member 22 which has a groove 24 in its outside periphery. The ring member 22 is supported on the shaft 52 by an insulator sleeve 26 which completely insulates the ring member 22 from the shaft l2. On each side of the ring member 22 are insulating members 30 which are adapted to insulate the ring member 22 from a second pair of ring members 28 which are in direct contact, and forming an electrical contact, with the shaft 12. In this manner, an electrical lcincuit which is passed through the shaft 12 is carried by the members 28 but is completely insulated from the grooved ring 22,

The opposite, or tongued roll M may be con-.

structed in one piece which. is adapted to mount on the shaft it. The opposed roll. Hi is con structed with a tongue 34 which is adapted to mate with the groove 24 of the Opposing roller and has on each side a portionadapted to register with the non-insulated electrical conducting portions 28 situated on each side of theinsulated ring 22.

As previously stated, the alternate roll, namely the tongued roll, may be insulated in a manner as outlined for the ring 22, or both rolls may be insulated as long as the outside electroconducting portions 28 and 38 are adapted to carry the current as described.

The diameter of the electro-conducting portions as and 38 are such that when sliver is being passed between the tongue 34 and the groove .24; these portions 2838. are maintained in a spaced apart relationship, but upon the exhaustion of the supply of sliver the shafts H] and i2 are adapted to be forced together so that the conducting members 28 and 38 are in contact.

Thus it will be understood that lateral motion of the shafts, which would normally cause electrical contact between the side walls of the groove 25 and the side walls of the tongue is now merely contact between an insulated or non-conducting part and a con-ducting part, which will not complete the circuit between the two poles.

Spring loaded shaft clamp Referring now more particularly to Figure 3 of the drawings, which illustrates a side sectional elevation of a preferred form of a spring loaded shaft clamp, which is adapted to encircle the pair of shafts l9 and I2, urging the shafts, the condensin rolls and the contactin portions 28 and 38 are mounted on the shafts, towards each other. The body portion of the clamp consists of top and bottom framing members is and end framing members 32. Substantially semi-circular bearing members 44 are mounted between the top and bottom members 59 on a pair of insulating strips 46 which are fixed to the members 56.

One of said bearings 44 which is slidably mounted on the insulating strips is spring urged towards the other by means of a spring 38 which is adjustably mounted on one of the end pieces d2, the pressure of said spring 48 against the bearing 45- being adjustable by means of a spring seat 5!} which is movable by a set screw and lock nut assembly 52. A pair of bosses 54 situated on the bearing member 44 and the spring seat 55 are adapted to align the spring 48 and to prevent it from bein dislodged by vibration. Said spring seat 59 and said bosses 54 which are preferably of one piece construction, are constructed of insulating material, so that the current carried by the shaft is not carried tothe frame. 0n the opposite inside end of the frame, an insulating member 60 is adapted to insulate the bearing 3 from the framing end member 42 as illustrated in Figure 3.

In order to properly align the spring loaded shaft clamp 18 and, to prevent lateral movement of the clamp upon the shafts i0 and i2, a portion of the shaft is turned down to a smaller diameter to provide a groove 56 into which the bearings M are adapted to seat.

Operation For example, as illustrateclin Figure 1 which shows the set-up of a six head drawing frame, the sliver condensing rolls l4 and [B are placed in pairs on the shaft, the rolls being disposed between a pair of clamping members 18. Insulated driving means such as the gears 20 are adapted to drive the rolls [9 and I2 in opposite directions. The amount of pressure which is exerted between the rollers I 4 and. I6 is adjustable by means of the set screw 52.

The sliver is introduced, in starting the maohinain the groove 24, the sliver being compressed in the groove 24 by the spring urged action of the tongue 34.

The sliver, while in the groove maintains the two electrical conducting portions 28 and 38 in spaced relationship. Upon breakage or exhaustion of the sliver supply in the groove 24-, the spring 43 is exerting suflicient pressure through the bearings 44 on the shafts to bring the two electrical contacting portions 28 and 38 into contact which is adapted to close the electrical contact, thereby operating a stop apparatus.

Advantages As will be seen in the. foregoing detailed description and operation. the closing of the electrical circuit is impossible by lateral motion of the shaft.

Great annoyance and loss of time have been caused in the past by slight lateral motion of either shaft forming a contact between the side walls of the tongue and groove portion, while in the applicants device contact by lateral motion of the shaft is impossible.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplify reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

We claim:

1. In asliver condenser having a pair of counter-rotatable shafts insulated from one another and mounted for movement towards and from each other, at least one pair of mating condenser rolls mounted on said shafts, one of said rolls having a grooved mating portion, and the other having a tongued portion adapted to mate with said groove, each of said shafts being adapted to carry one pole of an electric circuit; a, stop motion comprising, an insulating sleeve between one of said condenser roll mating portions and its respective shaft, at least one electro-conductor having a peripheral face parallel to the axis of the shaft mounted on said shaft adjacent but insulateol from said insulated condenser r011 portion, an electro-conductor mounted on said opposite shaft adapted to register with and contact said first named electro-conductor face, and means adapted to urge said rolls and said electro conductors towards each other, whereby contact is made between said first named electro-conductor face and said second electro-conductcr when there is no sliver between the tongue and groove of the mating condenser rolls.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, an insulating member intervening said insulated condenser roll portion and said first named electroconductor.

3. A sliver condenser having a pair of substantially counter-rotatable shafts insulated from one another, each being adapted to carry one pole of an electric circuit and mounted for movement towards and from each other, at least one pair of mating condenser rolls mounted on said shafts, one of said rolls having a grooved mating portion and the other having a tongued portion adapted to mate with the groove, an insulating member between at least one of said mating portions and its respective shaft, collars of insulating material mounted on said shaft on each side of said insulated roll portion, a metal collar of non-insulating material mounted on said shaft at each side of the insulated roll portion and insulated therefrom by said collars of insulating material, the peripheral surfaces of said metal collars being parallel with the axis of said shaft, an electrooonductor mounted on said opposite shaft adapted to register with and contact said metal collars peripheral surfaces, the rolls adapted to be normally maintained apart by sliver to prevent contact of said surfaces and said electro-conductor, and means adapted to urge said rolls and said conductor towards each other, whereby contact is made between said surfaces and said electroconductor when there is no sliver in the tongue and groove.

4. In combination with a sliver condenser, as claimed in claim 1, means adapted to urge said condenser rolls and said electro-conductors towards each other comprising, a frame consisting of top and bottom parallel frame members and end frame members detachably fixed thereto to space said top and bottom members, an insulated track mounted on each of said top and bottom members, a pair of opposed semi circular shaft bearings adapted to engage with the distal circumferences of the shafts, and said bearings being mounted between and adapted to ride on said insulated tracks, resilient means insulated from said frame adapted to act against one of said hearings to urge said bearing towards said other bearing, whereby said shafts are adapted to be urged towards each other by insulated means.

5. The combination of a pair of sliver condenser rolls and means for urging said rolls towards each other, as claimed in claim 4, in which said resilient means insulated from said frame consists of a spring seat on one bearing, a boss adapted to align said spring, a second spring seat of insulating material adjustably mounted on said frame, a spiral spring disposed between said two seats, a set screw threadably engaged to said frame adapted to act on said spring seat, whereby one of said shafts engaged by one of said bearings is resiliently urged towards said other shaft which is engaged by said other bearing while remaining insulated from said frame.

JOHN GREEN KERSHAVV. PATRICK JEFFERY MALONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,164 Bullough Dec. 12, 1875 

